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Wildlife officials in multiple US states are warning residents about leaving pumpkin displays outdoors this Halloween. The warnings relate to the risk of attracting wild animals such as deer, squirrels, raccoons and bears to residential areas as pumpkins begin to rot. Officials are advising alternatives like indoor decorating or proper disposal once the holiday ends.

The Peterson Institute for International Economics says global growth remains solid despite a challenging environment. The assessment points to continued expansion worldwide even as headwinds persist, offering a measured but broadly reassuring read on the state of the world economy.

Researchers at Utah State University have published findings that challenge the long-accepted paradigm for how pregnancy is recognised in ruminants such as cattle, sheep and goats. The work questions established scientific understanding of the signalling mechanisms that allow a pregnant animal's body to detect and maintain pregnancy, a topic with potential implications for livestock reproduction and fertility management.

A rundown of electronic devices that have been prohibited from exam halls because students use them to cheat is drawing wide attention. The list covers hidden earpieces, smart glasses, mini cameras and other covert tech that invigilators now watch for. Viewers are reacting with a mix of fascination and concern about how easily such devices can be obtained and how schools are struggling to keep up.

Mistral and Reflection have released new open-source AI models that Forbes reports challenge China's current dominance in open-source artificial intelligence. The release positions European and American labs as serious competitors to Chinese counterparts like DeepSeek and Qwen, which have recently led open-weight leaderboards. The move signals intensifying global competition over open-source model performance.

A startup backed by Nvidia has developed an open-weight artificial intelligence model, positioning itself as a rival to Chinese AI labs that have gained attention with freely available models. The move signals growing competition in the open-weight AI space, where accessible models from China have pressured Western companies. Details about the startup and the model's capabilities remain limited.

A group of European payments companies has formed an alliance aimed at reducing reliance on US-dominated payment networks. The initiative reflects growing pressure in Europe to build home-grown payment infrastructure and lessen dependence on American providers such as Visa and Mastercard. The move is being discussed as a significant step toward greater European financial independence.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore faced Republican challenger Dan Cox in a debate centered on the economy, affordability and former President Trump. The two candidates traded arguments over the state's cost of living and Moore's record as governor, with Cox seeking to tie his opponent to national Democratic figures while Moore defended his economic stewardship ahead of the election.

German trade unionists are being urged to take a lesson from Spain, where unions have called a general strike over the housing crisis. An article in the left-wing newspaper Neues Deutschland is being shared with the German trade union confederation DGB, arguing that Spain shows 'how it's done' in the fight against housing shortages and inflation.